While this era in the NBA has been marked by the dominance of LeBron James and Stephen Curry, a fresh wave of talent is breaking through the ranks to join the league’s elite. Remarkably, both veterans continue to compete at a high level, demonstrating their ability to lead their franchises and shine in the postseason. Yet, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently revealed his pick for the top five players in today’s league, opting to leave out one of these iconic stars in favor of a surprise inclusion.
In an episode of the Off the Record podcast, Shaq O’Neal revealed his top five current NBA players. “Steph Curry, Shai, like that boy J-Dub (Jalen Williams), three, (Nikola Jokic) four, got to still stay with Giannis (Antetokounmpo) at five,” he shared. The inclusion of Jalen Williams on this elite list surprised many. It is not because he lacks skill, quite the opposite. His presence often goes unnoticed due to sharing the court with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has firmly cemented his status as the premier NBA player of the 2024-25 season. Leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship victory, he earned both the Finals MVP and season MVP honors. He showcased his exceptional skill by averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Undoubtedly, he has emerged as one of the league’s top talents over the past three years.
Not only did Jalen Williams’ name catch everyone’s attention, but LeBron James‘ absence also raised eyebrows. Anticipating potential backlash, Shaquille O’Neal swiftly addressed the omissions. “I already know [what] people going to do with that list. They going to say, ‘Oh, you diss LeBron.’ No. This is just my opinion. Everybody knows I love LeBron. This is my opinion. You ain’t going to change it.”
For many fans, Shaquille O’Neal’s decision to rank Stephen Curry above LeBron James has been quite surprising. Both players boast remarkably similar scoring averages —24.5 points for the Golden State Warriors’ star and 24.4 points for the Los Angeles Lakers’ standout. Nevertheless, O’Neal has consistently expressed his admiration for Stephen, asserting that no one in the league surpasses him in scoring prowess.
Moreover, Nikola Jokic has firmly established himself as one of league’s elite talents over the past five years. Despite securing just one NBA Championship, his three MVP awards speak volumes about his extraordinary skill set and his ability to dominate virtually every aspect of the game. In the 2024-25 season, Jokic elevated his performance to new heights, achieving the rare feat of averaging a triple-double and cementing his status as one of league’s brightest stars.
Despite not shining collectively, Giannis Antetokounmpo impressed with his outstanding individual performance for the Milwaukee Bucks. During the 67 games he played in the 2024-25 season, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. He served as the team’s leader and was the main reason they clinched a playoff spot.